“It’s literally Christmas magic, and you can’t make it any other way,” said event chair Abbie Galie of the Medford Dickens Festival, which is expected to offer horse drawn carriage rides and other activities.
The annual Medford Dickens Festival presented by the Main Street Merchants of Historic Medford Village and sponsored by SJS Title, will transform Main Street in Medford into a winter wonderland on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Drawing visitors from across New Jersey and Philadelphia to see the historic downtown transformed into a Victorian-era wonderland, the festival will have carolers filling the air with festive melodies, and there will be holiday treats from local vendors. People come dressed for the occasion, adding to the festive feel of the event.
It’s a long-standing tradition that brings joy and holiday cheer to the heart of Medford. The festival will kick off with a parade featuring town officials and residents dressed in authentic Dickensian attire, and Santa Claus will arrive at the town gazebo by horse-drawn carriage accompanied by the Golden Ticket winners. Santa’s elves will pass out candy canes to the children who let Santa know their holiday wishes throughout the evening.
There will be live performances including a nativity and musical entertainment. The Village Carollers will enchant guests with their festive melodies, and don’t miss the comedic performance of “A Christmas Carol” by Pirates of Fortune’s Follies, horse drawn carriage rides, visits from Santa and the Grinch and more. Food truck stations will be on site and Main Sreet’s restaurants and local breweries will also be open.
“Not only is it important to the community of Medford, but it brings so many people into town and people in the community love going to the event,” said Lesha Moore, executive director of the Medford Business Association. “When people come into town, it also gives a wonderful chance for people to see the beautiful town of downtown Medford and to see the shops and the businesses and the volunteers from the shops and businesses, the heart and soul that they put in to put on this event for the entire community.”
Dickens showcases Main Street’s quaint, local businesses that line the historic downtown. Volunteers from the shops and boutiques organize the festival each year, contributing to the charm and community spirit that make Medford special. Attendees will also discover unique gifts from the local shops and over 90 juried artisans will be offering handcrafted items perfect for holiday gift-giving.
“It’s literally Christmas magic and you can’t make it any other way,” said event chair Abbie Galie. “Seeing all the people in the street, happy with shopping bags in their hands and the kids are excited, it’s that Christmas morning energy. You can’t walk 10-feet without something entertaining on Main Street which is cool.”
The free event will be held from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Parking will be available in designated areas and a shuttle bus route will be posted online. For more information, search the event’s social media at MainStreetMedford and DestinationMedford or visit www.mainstreetmedford.com.
